From: Rick Womer
Thanks, Chris!
Williamsburg was Virginia's capital during the colonial period, and
until 1780 (when it moved to Richmond).? Colonial Williamsburg is a
nonprofit organization that began restoring the colonial capital
beginning in the 1930s, with Rockefeller support.? They describe
themselves as a "living museum" of life in pre-revolution
Williamsburg, including most of the colonial-era crafts.? There are
also a number of historical and archeological researches going on.?
It's a marvelous place to spend a few days.
Rick
It's a "history" theme park that predates Disneyland. The amusement park
aspect is kept outside the boundaries & line of sight of the colonial
"Main Street USA", but it's there. The driving purpose behind Colonial
Williamsburg is strictly commercial.
Many of the "restored" buildings did not actually exist back colonial
times. Colonial Williamsburg demolished something like 700 buildings
from the 19th century to make way for what is essentially a gigantic
showroom for "Colonial Revival" style merchandising.
Supposedly 88 of the 500 buildings in Colonial Williamsburg are
"original", whatever that actually means. Any resemblance to the real
life of colonial America is purely coincidental.
I like Colonial Williamsburg, but I don't mistake it for historical
fact. When it closes for the night, the "residents" get in their 21st
century cars and drive home to their 20th century houses.
If the tourists ever stop coming there to spend their money, it will be
replaced by a super-Walmart so fast it will make your tricorne hat spin!
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